Derived from the scholarly lectures of Nokounam (may his secret be sanctified), Session 1471
Surah Yunus, like a radiant jewel within the Holy Quran, encompasses divine truths and guides humanity towards pure monotheism and profound knowledge of the unparalleled Essence of the Lord. Verse 48 of this Surah, with a profound and majestic expression, addresses the absolute sovereignty of God in bestowing good and evil, guidance and misguidance, mercy and forgiveness. This verse, like a polished mirror, reflects the truth of Gods unity and cautions humanity against any form of dependence on other than Him. In this treatise, relying on erudite lectures and deep analyses, this verse is examined in a coherent format with clear and dignified language. The objective is to lead the reader, through contemplation of these realities, toward a deeper cognition of the Divine Essence and distancing from polytheism and material attachments.
وَإِنْ يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَإِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ
And if Allah intends good for you, none can repel His bounty; He causes it to reach whomsoever of His servants He wills. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And if He intends harm for you, there is none to remove His harm except Him.
This verse, like a blazing torch, elucidates the absolute divine sovereignty in all aspects of existence. Good and evil, blessing and afflictionall are in the boundless power of the Lord. No being other than Him can grant good or repel evil. This truth, akin to a pure stream, guides humanity towards complete reliance upon the singular Divine Essence.
Key Point: No entity except God is capable of granting good or removing evil. This fact detaches man from dependency on the non-divine and directs him towards monotheism in lordship.
The phrase فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ clearly indicates that Gods bounty and grace reach whomever He wills without any barrier. This concept, like a revitalising breeze, liberates the heart from fear and doubt, assuring man that good and felicity rest in the hands of the Lord. Also, فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ signifies that no power except God can remove hardships and difficulties. These two expressions serve as dual wings that elevate man toward pure monotheism and distancing from polytheism and reliance on other than God.
Verse 48 of Surah Yunus, with a lucid and decisive statement, emphasises Gods absolute sovereignty in bestowing good and averting evil. This reality detaches humanity from any attachment to other than God and invites it to trust and submission to the Divine will. This part establishes a firm foundation for monotheism in lordship within the readers heart and soul.
The verse mentions the two attributes الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ, portraying two facets of Gods infinite mercy. Forgiving refers to the pardon of past sins, as if God with His generous hands casts a veil of forgiveness over the servants faults. Merciful, however, is like a gushing spring, speaking of Gods mercy and care towards the servants future. These two attributes, like two shining stars in the firmament of knowledge, guide man toward hope and repentance.
Key Point: The attribute Forgiving enlivens hope for pardon of past sins, while Merciful refers to Gods mercy in guiding and supporting the future of mankind.
These attributes invite man to repentance and return to the Lord. It is as if God, like a benevolent father, has opened the doors of His mercy to His servants and calls them towards eternal felicity. Man must cleanse his past by seeking forgiveness from the Forgiving and guide his future with hope in the mercy of the Merciful.
The attributes Forgiving and Merciful, like two brilliant gems, manifest Gods boundless mercy. These qualities invite man to repentance, hope, and guidance, preventing him from sinking into the darkness of sin and despair. This section is like a bridge that connects a sinful past to a bright and divine future.
One of the central messages of the verse is an invitation to pure monotheism and avoidance of any form of polytheism, whether apparent or hidden. Dependence on individuals, places, or objectseven if sanctifiedmay distance man from the reality of Gods oneness. It is as if man, like a bird in the cage of attachments, is prevented from flying toward the sky of knowledge.
Key Point: All beings, including prophets and saints, are only manifestations of the Divine and must not be considered as sources of good or removal of harm. God alone is the sole source of all blessings.
Sanctifying places such as the Kabah, water dispensaries, or pilgrimage sites, if it replaces attention to the Divine Essence, can lead to subtle polytheism. The Kabah, as a symbol of monotheism, holds great value; however, its essence is merely stone and marble. This truth, like a mirror, invites man to reflect on the reality of monotheism and avoid superficiality.
Pure monotheism detaches man from all dependence on other than God and guides him towards the singular Divine Essence. The critique of material and superficial attachments acts as a wake-up call, rousing man from heedlessness and directing him towards the absolute Divine truth.
The Holy Quran in Surah Al-Ikhl describes God as As-Samad and He begets not, nor was He begotten. These attributes, like a brilliant sun, purify the Divine Essence from any resemblance to created beings. God is absolutely independent and devoid of human characteristics such as begetting or being begotten.
Key Point: God, as As-Samad and He begets not, nor was He begotten, is free from any similarity to created beings and alone is worthy of worship.
Prophets, Imams, and saints, although worthy of respect and honour, are only divine manifestations and must not replace the Divine Essence. They are like mirrors reflecting divine light but are not themselves the light.
The distinction of the Divine Essence from manifestations leads man to a deeper understanding of God. This section acts as a key that unlocks the hearts lock, guiding man towards the unique Divine truth.
False mysticism, which inclines towards material and sensual attachments, distances man from the truth of monotheism. It is like a mirage that draws the thirsty seeker of truth towards illusion and fantasy.
Key Point: True mysticism is in the knowledge of and proximity to the Divine Essence, not in attachment to material and sensual bonds.
True mysticism lies in constant remembrance of God and intimate supplication to Him. This mysticism, like a pure stream, cleanses the heart from material contaminations and leads it toward Divine knowledge.
The distinction between true and false mysticism directs man towards pure and sincere cognition. This section acts as a guide that leads man away from the deviations of polytheism and material attachments towards the path of monotheism.
Supplication and constant remembrance of God, like a precious jewel, guide man towards eternal felicity. The practice of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him), who remembered God with tears and weeping in his prostrations, is an unparalleled example of this profound connection.
Key Point: Constant remembrance of God and weeping for Him are signs of Divine closeness and human felicity.
Weeping for God, unlike weeping for worldly matters, purifies the heart and leads man towards Divine knowledge and nearness. This weeping is like rain that quenches the earth of the heart.
Supplication and deep connection with God guide man from material darkness towards Divine light. This section is like a torch that illuminates the path of felicity in the heart and soul of man.
Divine manifestations, such as prophets and saints, are merely intermediaries for approaching God. They are like bridges guiding man towards the ultimate destination, namely the Divine Essence.
Key Point: Divine manifestations, although valuable, are only intermediaries for drawing near to God and should not be regarded as the ultimate goal.
Divine manifestations, like signs on the path of monotheism, guide man towards God. This section invites reflection on the role of these manifestations and concentration on the singular Divine Lord.
Verse 48 of Surah Yunus, like a shining jewel, encompasses the truths of pure monotheism. This verse, by emphasising absolute divine sovereignty, detaches man from any polytheism and dependence on other than God, leading him to knowledge and closeness to the incomparable Divine Essence. The attributes Forgiving and Merciful revive hope in divine pardon and mercy, while criticism of material and superficial attachments directs man towards the absolute truth. True mysticism lies in the constant remembrance of God and avoidance of material attachments, and divine manifestations are only means to reach Him. This treatise, like a blazing torch, guides the reader towards eternal felicity and divine knowledge.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
